Reference: Clay
American
Designed for earthenware was trodden by the feet to mix it well, Isa 41:25, was molded on a wheel, and then baked in a kiln, Jer 18:3; 43:9. The potter's art is referred to in Scripture to illustrate man's dependence upon God, Isa 64:8; Ro 9:21. See POTTER. Clay seems to have been also used in sealing, as wax is with us, Job 38:14. The bricks of Babylon are found marked with a large seal or stamp, and modern travellers find the locks of doors in eastern khans and granaries sealed on the outside with clay.
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"It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.
"I have aroused one from the north, and he has come; From the rising of the sun he will call on My name; And he will come upon rulers as upon mortar, Even as the potter treads clay."
But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.
"Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews;
Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?
Easton
This word is used of sediment found in pits or in streets (Isa 57:20; Jer 38:28), of dust mixed with spittle (Joh 9:6), and of potter's clay (Isa 41:25; Na 3:14; Jer 18:1-6; Ro 9:21). Clay was used for sealing (Job 38:14; Jer 32:14). Our Lord's tomb may have been thus sealed (Mt 27:66). The practice of sealing doors with clay is still common in the East. Clay was also in primitive times used for mortar (Ge 11:3). The "clay ground" in which the large vessels of the temple were cast (1Ki 7:46; 2Ch 4:17) was a compact loam fitted for the purpose. The expression literally rendered is, "in the thickness of the ground,", meaning, "in stiff ground" or in clay.
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They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.
In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan.
"It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.
"I have aroused one from the north, and he has come; From the rising of the sun he will call on My name; And he will come upon rulers as upon mortar, Even as the potter treads clay."
But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you." read more. Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time."
So Jeremiah stayed in the court of the guardhouse until the day that Jerusalem was captured.
Draw for yourself water for the siege! Strengthen your fortifications! Go into the clay and tread the mortar! Take hold of the brick mold!
And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes,
Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?
Fausets
Tough plastic earth, containing silica and alumina. Used for making pottery in Palestine (Jer 18:2,6). Vessels of dark blue clay are still made at Gaza. Used by Jesus in curing the blind man (Joh 9:6), a mixture of dust and spittle. Doors are sealed with clay in the East, to facilitate detection of thieves. Wine jars were so sealed. It may have been with clay our Lord's tomb, and the earthen vessel with the proofs of Jeremiah's purchase, were sealed (Mt 27:66; Jer 32:14). At Koyunjik fine clay cylinders with Assyrian impressions have been found, which were made by rolling the seals on the moist clay, which was then baked in the fire.
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"Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you."
"Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you."
"Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
"Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.
'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time."
'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time."
And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes,
When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes,
Hastings
Smith
Clay.
As the sediment of water remaining in pits or in streets, the word is used frequently in the Old Testament.
and in the New Testament,
Joh 9:6
a mixture of sand or dust with spittle. It is also found in the sense of potter's clay.
The great seat of the pottery of the present day in Palestine is Gaza, where are made the vessels in dark-blue clay so frequently met with. Another use of clay was for sealing.
Our Lord's tomb may have been thus sealed,
as also the earthen vessel containing the evidences of Jeremiah's purchase.
The seal used for public documents was rolled on the moist clay, and the tablet was then placed in the fire and baked.
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"It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.
Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind; I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.
"I have aroused one from the north, and he has come; From the rising of the sun he will call on My name; And he will come upon rulers as upon mortar, Even as the potter treads clay."
But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time."
Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchijah the king's son, which was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes,
Watsons
CLAY, ???, is often mentioned in Scripture, nor is it necessary to explain the various references to what is so well known. It may be remarked, however, that clay was used for sealing doors. Norden and Pococke observe, that the inspectors of the granaries in Egypt, after closing the door, put their seal upon a handful of clay, with which they cover the lock. This may help to explain Job 38:14, in which the earth is represented as assuming form and imagery from the brightness of the rising sun, as rude clay receives a figure from the impression of a seal or signet.
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"It is changed like clay under the seal; And they stand forth like a garment.